The Miami Heat are heading into the All-Star break with a much-needed jolt of momentum, thanks in part to a 123-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. But beyond the win column, there’s another storyline heating up in South Beach - the emergence of second-year center Kel’el Ware.
Over the past few weeks, Ware has been carving out a bigger role in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, and on Wednesday night, he made that trust count. Starting alongside Bam Adebayo, Ware delivered one of his most complete performances of the season: 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and a +18 in 29 minutes of action.
Those are numbers that don’t just pop on the box score - they speak to impact. Ware wasn’t just on the floor; he was swinging the game in Miami’s favor.
For a team that’s been searching for consistency all season, Ware’s growth couldn’t come at a better time. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Spoelstra, never one to hand out praise lightly, made a point to spotlight Ware’s recent development - and in doing so, referenced a turning point that dates back to a January 15 loss to the Celtics.
Erik Spoelstra with PRAISE for Kel’el Ware tonight:
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) February 12, 2026
“I also appreciate Kel’el’s process over the last 3 weeks or month, since whenever that game was — the infamous postgame quote. But his process really improved and you’re going to go through stretches where it’s up and down but… https://t.co/Gb866ftMMV pic.twitter.com/um07hTr798
In that game, Ware played just nine minutes, and afterward, Spoelstra made a comment that stirred the pot a bit. He suggested that sometimes young players “subconsciously play poorly” in order to earn more minutes - a quote that quickly made the rounds and raised eyebrows. Fast forward to now, and Spoelstra is calling it “the infamous postgame quote,” but he’s also using it to highlight how far Ware has come since then.
“I also appreciate Kel’el’s process over the last three weeks or month, since whenever that game was - the infamous postgame quote,” Spoelstra said. “But his process really improved, and you’re going to go through stretches where it’s up and down, but he came in every day since then - just trying to work on getting better.”
That’s the kind of growth coaches love to see - not just in production, but in approach. Ware could’ve let that moment derail him. Instead, he used it as fuel.
For his part, Ware downplayed any friction. Speaking with SiriusXM Radio, he acknowledged the quote but called it more of a “miscommunication” than anything else.
“Yeah, I never went on the court and tried to play bad,” Ware said. “That would just make myself look bad. I would say it was more trying to get used to playing in a different role… Just try to go out there and impact the game the best way that I can on the defensive end and try to leave the game with a plus.”
That mindset - focusing on defense, rebounding, and doing the little things - is exactly what Miami needs from its young big. With Adebayo anchoring the frontcourt and Ware showing he can complement that with energy, length, and a developing offensive touch, the Heat may have found a frontcourt pairing worth investing in.
And now, Ware gets another chance to showcase his growth on a bigger stage. He’ll represent the Heat in the Rising Stars event during All-Star Weekend - a well-earned nod for a player who’s starting to turn potential into production.
For Miami, this is more than just a feel-good story. It’s a sign that the Heat’s player development pipeline is still very much alive - and that Kel’el Ware might be the next name to rise through it.